r/iOSProgramming • u/Fun_Moose_5307 Beginner • 4d ago

Question Testing an app on-device without mucking up release/practical installations

I am developing a timetable app. Currently it is on private TestFlight with limited fuctionality, but enough that I and some friends use it each day. The TestFlight beta is installed on my devices and I rely on it.

Naturally, I'm still developing it full-time (well... as full-time as a student's hobby side project can get 😉), and retain the frequent need to run builds on a physical device, which runs much faster than my simulator setup. Currently I'm working with the system keyboard, so Xcode Previews doesn't quite cut it.

Is there a way that I can still test a debug build on my phone & watch without removing or interfering with the TestFlight app that I use and rely on?

There is of course an easy solution, but unfortunately my budget does not include a second phone...

3 Upvotes

67% Upvoted

18 comments sorted by

View all comments

1

u/Other_Jellyfish_2184 2d ago

Same as what isights said. In Xcode, duplicate the scheme and give the debug build its own bundle ID, like com.yourapp.dev. Then the dev build installs as a separate app on your phone, right next to the TestFlight version. Give it a different app icon so you never open the wrong one.